Balance adjustment for tennis rackets



June 21, 1938-, L. R. GLEAIIJALL BALANCE ADJUSTMENT FOR TENNIS RACKETS Filed may 15. Y195'/ Patented June 21, 1938 PATENT orner.

BALANCE ADJUSTMENT FOR TENNIS RACKETS Leslie Reginald Gleadall, Bankstown, State of n New South Wales, Australia Application May 15,1937, Serial No. 142,922

In 4Australia May 23,1936 1 ,'l Claims.

vThis invention relates to `weight and balance adjustment means especially [applicable for use in association with the handles of `tennis rackets.

Although in this specification" the invention will be `particularly described in its application to a tennis racket handle it will be obvious that the invention is subjectv to analogous uses-and may be applied with advantage to the -handles of articles for use in various sports such for example as cricket bats, base ball bats, polo zclubs, hockey clubs, croquet clubs, badminton rackets and squash rackets.

The invention provides special means- Whereby the racket or .the like may be conveniently loaded, according to the particular requirements and fancy of the person requiring to use same, Such objective being achieved by the use of a hollowed or apertured handleformation` adapted to detachably receive snuglydispose-d longitudinally Within lit a casing orcartridge which in turn carries adapted tobedetachably ar.- ranged lin selected location within it one or more Weighting pieces or balanceweights.

The said. casingv or cartridge Vis formed lof papier-mch or approvedbrous ,material or it may be of wood `or, of metal or of other suitable material. It is preferably of circular crosssectional configuration and of` diameter adapting it to t tightly and snugly within the. said `hollowed or apertured handle formation.

Each said Weighting piece or balance Weight (which may for example be about half ofV one ounce in Weight and one half or three quarters ofan inch in length ifrto be applied in association With a tennis racket handl'ermay conveniently be comprised by a piece of lead of tubular form having its outer surface tightly ern,- braced by a piece of rubber tubing whose outer surface may be corrugated or otherwise adapted to engage and closely t Within the said casing or cartridge. j

According to one .forni` of the invention a re# quired plurality of the said weighting pieces or balance weights may be strung together longitudinally as on a length of string, twine, cord, gut fibre, or light Wire or the like portion of which is normally so located as to be in position to be grippedv by the fingers when it may be desired to `Withdraw from the said hollo'vved or apertured handle formation the said casing or cartridge together with its contained weighting pieces or balance weights, as for the purpose of positionally adjusting the latter or adding to or diminishing the number thereof'to secure a particular or different weighting or`-bala`n`ce, the

number of Weighting pieces or balance weights being of course governedV by the requirements of each individual user in regard to the total weight of and balance of the racket.

According to another form. of the invention the said Weighting pieces orl balance'weights are'not strung together longitudinally although snugly nested Within the said casing or cartridge which latter is again adapted to be Withdrawn when required from the said hollovved or apertured handie formation by a length of string, twine, cord, gut libre orlight wire or the like.

The entrance to the said hollowed or apertured handle formation is adapted, When the said casing or cartridge has been inserted in the handle, to be neatly and tightly closed as by a-cap having a tight push-in fit-or if preferred a screw cap tting may be employed.

By the simple expedient of forming the said casing or cartridge with one or more longltudi nally arranged cuts each adapted to admit an end" vof a suitable adjusting implement, each said weighting piece or balance weight may be either .adjustably moved longitudinally of and within the said casing or cartridge thus to `alter the balance of the racket or said Weighting piece or balance Weight may be forced completely out of the said casing or cartridge. Alternately of course a weight or Weights may be added.

To ensure a desired snug and comparatively tight t at all material times as and between the exterior surface of the said casing or cartridge and the inner surface of the said hollow or aperture of the handle, the latter is fitted with a composite lining of wood and felt materials which lining is formed of alternately arranged adjacently fitted rings of the said wood and felt. In lieu of felt other approved resilient material as cork may be used. The said composite lining further functions as a necessary reinforcement to the said hollowed or apertured handle formation to prevent collapse of the latter when it is gripped in a vice during re-stringing operations. y

The inner surface of thesaid casing or carn tridge (or a selected portion or portions thereof) may have glued or Y otherwise suitably fixed thereto glass paper or the like material adapted to further ensure desired tight engagement in selected location Within the said casing or cartridge of each said Weighting piece or balance Weight.

But' in order that the invention may be more clearly understood' reference will now be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the several views wherein:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form. of the invention associated with the handle of a tennis racket (the latter shown in dotted lines).

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the weighting pieces or balance weights used in association with the invention and as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on a line C-C of Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative forni of inner casing or cartridge adapted to be utilized in association with the invention.

Figure 5 is a lower end view of the casing or cartridge illustrated by Figure 4.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a weighting piece or balance weight and the manner of its use in association with a pull string and an upper end plug associated with the invention.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe casing or cartridge illustrated by Figure 4 and fitted with a number of weighting pieces or balance weights and inserted into the hollowed or apertured handle of a tennis racquet which is in readiness for use.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view on a line A-A of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view on a line B-B of Figure 8.

Referring then to the said drawing in the casing or cartridge II is fitted a number of weighting pieces or balance weights I2 as of lead or other suitable metal.

Surrounding each weight I2 is a corrugated rub-ber tube I3 which adapts the weight I2 to be gripped tightly within the cartridge II particularly when the latter is inserted and snugly forced into the hollowed or apertured handle I4 of a tennis racket. Y

'I'he said cartridge II may as before stated be a papier-mch or approved fibrous material or of wood or metal and is provided with saw cuts I5 through which an end of a bent implement may be inserted to, by applied pressure in required direction, position the weights I2 Within the said cartridge IIl Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, to enable the plurality of weights I2 and their cartridge II to be together withdrawn from the said apertured handle I4, a cord or string is passed between the weights I2 and rubber tubes I3 (on both sides of the said weights I2) the lower loop end of the string passing through an eyelet I1 of a lower end plug I8 which latter is applied to the lower end of the cartridge I I. The free ends I9 of the cord or string I6 may be loosely packed into the upper end of the cartridge II whose upper end is then closed in approved manner by a tight fitting upper end plug To remove the weights I2 or either one of the same or to slightly alter their or its position Within and longitudinally of the cartridge II the upper end plug 20 is first removed and the free endsv I9 of the string I6 are pulled whereupon the cartridge I I may be bodily removed with its contained weights I2 from the' apertured handle I4. Required adjustments of the said weights I2 may be effected without removal of the said weights from the said cartridge II following upon Which the latter is again inserted within the apertured handle I4 and the upper end plug is again applied as a closure.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawing the cartridge II has saw cuts I5 two in number disposed in planes at right angles to each other, adjacent extremities of the said saw cuts I5 being disposed approximately centrally of the length of the cartridge II. Centrally and interiorly of the said cartridge II is secured the anchoring plug 2| as of wood or other approved material and having grooves 22 formed lengthwise of and from its surface.

Through the said grooves 22 a string I 6 is passed and knotted at 23 behind the anchoring plug 2I, the looped upper end of the string I6 passing through an eyelet 24 of an upper end plug 25 which latter is fitted with a corrugated rubber ring 26 which functions to render the upper end plug 25 tight fitting within the cartridge II.

Portions of the string I6 may pass conveniently along the saw cuts I5, or between the inner surface of the cartridge II and the outer surface of the corrugated rubber tubing I3.

By removing and pulling on the upper end plug 25 the cartridge II with its contained weights may be removed by reason of the pull of the string I6 on the wooden anchoring plug 2|.

After effecting any required adjustments of or adding to or depleting the number of the weights I2 the cartridge I I is again inserted in the apertured handle I4. 'Ihe upper end plug 25 is then turned to cause twisting of the string I6 which latter thus by reason of its twist is shortened and tends to draw inwardly and maintain in requisite tightly closed position the upper end plug 25 after it has been firmly pressed home.

In the last described form of the invention it will be noted that the string I6 does not pass between the weights I2 and the rubber tubes I3 as was the case in the form of the invention described with reference to Figure 1 of the drawing--thus complete removal from the cartridge II of weights I2 each together with its embracing rubber tube I3 may be more readily effected.

Tight fitting and steadiness of each said weight I2 is ensured by its tightly embracing corrugated rubber tube I3 and the tight fit of the latter within the said cartridge II, which latter also is adapted to lt tightly within the apertured handle I4, as will later appear.

The desired snug and tight fit between the cartridge II and inner surface of the apertured handle I4 is ensured by the composite lining to the latter which lining is formed of the alternately arranged adjacently fitted wooden lining rings 28 and felt lining rings 29. The rings 29 may be of cork or other approved resilient material.

The rings 29 ensure a tight resilient fit and are of substance which retains its shape and texture for a prolonged period. The wooden lining rings 28 strengthen the handle formation against possible collapse or damage due to rough usage in play and/or when it is gripped as by a vice during the operation of re-stringing the racket.

The inner surface of the said cartridge II (or selected portions thereof) may have narrow strips 2l yof glass-paper or the like material glued or pasted or otherwise suitably fixed thereto, 'so` to provide very firm gripping surfaces which further definitely ensurev that the weights I2 will not move from their adjusted positions when the player is using the racket.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, the casing or cartridge Il, a1-V though illustrated in Figure 8 as of lesser length than that of the hollowed handle I4, may extend downwardly of and within the latter to any approved distance.

What I do claim is:-

1. Weight and balance adjustment means associated with the handle of a tennis racket, cricket bat, or the like having a hollowed portion; said means comprising a longitudinally split weight gripping cartridge of a. tubular shape adapted to be snugly disposed detachably within and longitudinally of the hollowed portion of the said handle and at least one weighting piece detachably arranged in selected location within said cartridge.

2. Weight and balance adjustment means associated with the handle of a tennis racket, cricket bat, or the like having a hollowed portion; said means comprising a cartridge adapted to be snugly disposed detaehably within and 1ongitudinally of the hollowed portion of the said handle and at least one-weighting piece detachably arranged in selected location within said cartridge and consisting of a piece of lead of tubular form, a piece of rubber tubing lightly embracing the outer surface of the piece of lead and having its outer surface engaging and closely fitting within said cartridge.

3. Weight and balance adjustment means associated with the handle of a tennis racket, cricket bat, or the like having a hollowed portion; said means comprising a cartridge adapted to be snugly disposed detachably within and longitudinally of said hollowed portion of the said handle and a plurality of weighting pieces strung together and detachably arranged in selected locations within said cartridge, each of said weighting pieces consisting of a piece of lead of tubular form, a piece of rubber tubing lightly embracing the outer surface of the piece of lead and having its outer surface engaging and closely tting within said cartridge.

4. Weight and balance adjustment means associated with the handle of a tennis racket, cricket bat, or the like and having a hollow portion; said means comprising a cartridge adapted to be snugly disposed detachably within and longitudinally of the hollowed portion of the said handle and a plurality of weighting pieces detachably arranged in selected locations within said cartridge, a string flexibly connecting the pieces together, each of said weighting pieces consisting of a piece of lead of tubular form, a piece of rubber tubing tightly embracing the outer surface of the piece of lead while the outer surface of the rubber is adapted to engage and closely t within the said cartridge, a closure plug for said cartridge provided with an eyelet the said string being passed between the said weighting pieces and their said embracing pieces of rubber and through the eyelet in the closure plug of the said cartridge and the free ends of the said string being loosely packed into the upper end of the said cartridge.

5. Weight and balance adjustment means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the said hollowed portion of the said handle is tted with a composite lining of alternately and adjacently arranged lining rings of wood and of resilient material.

6. Weight and balance adjustment means as claimed in claim 1, wherein associated with the inner surface of the said cartridge is a material having a gripping surface which frictionally engages with at least one of the said weighting pieces.

7. Weight and balance adjustment means as claimed in claim 1, and wherein centrally and interiorly of the said cartridge is secured an anchoring plug which has grooves formed lengthwise of and from its surface, a string passed through the said grooves and knotted behind the said anchoring plug, a tight fitting upper closure cap for the said cartridge and for the said hollowed portion of the said handle and having an eyelet, and the other end of the string being looped and passed through the eyelet.

LESLIE REGINALD GLEADALL. 

